Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr.

[caption id="attachment_119024" align="alignright" width="100"] Rabbi Israel Drazin[/caption]

Dr. Israel Drazin served for 31 years in the US military and attained the rank of Brigadier General. He has a PhD in Judaic Studies and a Masters Degree in psychology and a Masters Degree in Jewish Literature. He is an attorney and a rabbi.

He developed the legal strategy that saved the military chaplaincies when its constitutionality was attacked in court, and received the Legion of Merit for his service.

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He was the scholar who recognized that the Aramaic translation Targum Onkelos took hundreds of items from the Tannaitic Midrashim, which were edited around 400 CE; therefore, the Targum must have been composed after that date, a period much later than had been widely accepted.

He is the author of more than 50 books, including a series of five volumes on the Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible, and a series of books on the twelfth century philosopher Moses Maimonides, a history of the legal case he handled, and dozens of books on the Bible.

His works, available on Amazon, include:
*A Rational Approach to Judaism and Torah Commentary
*Can’t Start Passover Without the Bread (Children’s Literature) ***
*For God and Country: The History of a Constitutional Challenge to the Army Chaplaincy
*Maimonides and the Biblical Prophets
*Maimonides: Reason Above All
*Maimonides: The Exceptional Mind
*Mysteries of Judaism (Maimonides and Rational)
*Mysteries of Judaism II: How the Rabbis and Others Changed Judaism
*Nachmanides: An Unusual Thinker
*Onkelos on the Torah Understanding the Bible Text (5 Volume Set)**
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 1: Genesis) **
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 2: Exodus) **
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 3: Leviticus) **
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 4: Numbers) **
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 5: Deuteronomy) **
*Sailing on Moti’s Ark on Sukkoth (Children’s Literature) ***
*Stories that Teach the Truth: Ecclesiastes, Tobit, Susanna, and Other Stories.
*Studies in Onkelos (Hebrew edition)
*Targum Onkelos to Exodus [2]: An English Translation of the Text with Analysis and Commentary
*Targum Onkelos to Leviticus [3]: An English Translation of the Text with Analysis and Commentary
*Targum Onkelos to Numbers [4]: An English Translation of the Text with Analysis and Commentary
Targum Onkelos to Deuteronomy [5]: An English Translation of the Text with Analysis and Commentary
*The Authentic King Solomon
*The Tragedies of King David
*Understanding Onkelos
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Five Books of Moses (Maimonides and Rational)
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Hosea
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Jonah and Amos
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Joshua
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Judges
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Ruth, Esther, Judith
*What’s Beyond the Biblical Text? **
*Who Really Was the Biblical David?
*Who Was the Biblical Prophet Samuel?

** Co-Authored with Stanley Wagner
** Co-Authored with Leba Lieder
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The Jewish journey through loss: From death to healing

Death is a certainty, and the emotional and spiritual thoughts that it precipitates agonize and often leave mourners disoriented and alone. Co-authors Batya L. Ludman and Gina Junger provide a compassionate guide to navigating grief through the lens of centuries of Jewish tradition. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Book Review: ‘New-Russia: Images from a Journey’

New-Russia: Images from a Journey offers remarkable snapshots of the Soviet Union during a brief but revealing historical moment. The book captures the Soviet experiment as it was still taking shape. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Lifestyles, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

An important, easy-to-read philosophical book

Joseph Albo: Collected Writings, edited by Shira Weiss, is an important and welcome contribution to the study of medieval Jewish philosophy, making the thought of the Spaniard Joseph Albo (1380-1444) newly accessible to contemporary readers. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

The Torah concept of ‘ezer kenegdo’ reveals a proper marriage

Many English Bibles translate the words “help meet” or “helper suitable for him.” This translation demeans the wife’s position in the marriage; she is only a helper. The original Hebrew conveys a more profound sense of strength and equality than these translations suggest. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

‘Echoes of Egypt:’ A superb Haggada

His Haggada’s most distinctive feature is its rich visual presentation. The 156-page volume contains nearly four dozen colorful images drawn from the art, inscriptions, monuments, and iconography of ancient Egypt. These images are not decorative embellishments; they are interpretive tools. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Was Shakespeare Jewish?

Some support for the view that Shakespeare was not an antisemite and possibly even a Jew comes from the speech by the Jew Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, delivered in Act III, Scene 1, of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. The speech defends Jewish humanity in response to the mistreatment he suffered at the hands of some Christians. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Interesting interpretations of early Bible stories

Exodus 13:17-18 states: “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, ‘Lest the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.’ But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea.” [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

An excellent New Year’s resolution

Maimonides describes the three steps that lead to behavioral change. First, recognize that what you are doing is wrong. Second, decide to change the behavior to a proper one. Third, begin practicing the new practice and make it a habit that you continue. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Beware of Movies about the Bible

In the fictional film ending, the Israelites hear of David and Batsheva’s adultery and murder of her husband, and huge crowds gather to stone Batsheva. David tells God he is entirely to blame (as if he could fool God) and tries to commit suicide to save the woman he loves. God accepts his plea, and he is forgiven. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
https://youtu.be/IbMnYCnf_iE?si=RDVogknjJGJB6n0W

The Misunderstood Origin of Chanukah

1 Maccabees is more chronological and focuses on the military fight and initial victory. In contrast, 2 Maccabees addresses the religious aspects. It focuses on martyrdom, divine intervention, and the purification of the temple. Both show that there was more than a fight against the Seleucid Empire. It was also a Civil War—Jews against Jews, Cains against Abels. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors